New Search

Return to Search Results

Full Details

Surname
FINN
Forename
William
Day
11
Month
10
Year
1905
Age
32
Occupation
Labourer
Mine/Quarry Name
Peareth Quarry
Mineral Worked
Sandstone
Owner
Northern Stone Firms Ltd
Location
Springwell
County
Durham
Details of Event
Deceased and another man paid by the box were removing baring consisting of soil and strong clay from the top of the quarry during the night a Wells patent light affording the necessary illumination for their work. The baring was about 7 feet deep and had a face 25 feet long. There was an open side next to the quarry on the left. The face was undercut for about 1 foot for about 14 feet from the open side and it was intended to cut a chamber at the termination of the holing and afterwards pinches would be driven away from the top and old railway rails inserted in the holes made and driven down with malls and water applied. Before the holing was completed about 11pm. some 10 to 11 tons of ground fell and deceased and another man whose thigh was broken were buried. They were extricated in three or four minutes but deceased was dead after the accident a ‘dry’ was observed beginning under the soil about 4.5ft from the face and extending nearly vertically downwards and there was an old drain near. A stay had been put next to the loose side.